Author Topic: Light tackle spinning in Gabon (Read 5740 times)

chammond · « **on:** November 23, 2014, 05:10:48 PM »

Hi guys

The post should have been up long ago but thought I'd share some fishing highlights my brother and I had in Gabon. We left South Africa and flew to Libreville. We were met by our Tourette's fishing guides and boarded a small plane on route to Gamba roughly 400kms to the south. A short boat ride down one of the most amazing rivers I've ever and will ever lay my eyes on. We saw forest elephants, flocks of white crowned hornbills and jacks smashing baitfish as we headed toward camp located near the river mouth.
In total we fished 2 half days and 6 full days. The total number of fish caught was around 470. River snapper, white fin jacks, Senegal jacks and african threadfin accounted for most of the fish. However, we did get some sooty grunter on bucktails, a few jack crevalle on plugs and got cleaned up by two 250lb plus tarpon who literally crushed the halco roostas poppers.

The tackle we used was as follows:
9ft shimano aerocasts with stella 5000sw with 30lb braid and 50lb fluro.
7ft ml shimano trevala with sustain 5000fg with 20lb braid and 40lb fluro.
7ft1 daiwa Saltiga inshore spinning rod with stella 5000sw and 30lb braid with 50lb fluro.
9ft shimano exage gt rod with shimano saragosa 10000f with 50lb braid and 80lb fluro

The lures were vast but these were a few that stood out:
Spro bucktails 1 1/2oz chartreuse and white
Rapala xrap walks 11cm and 13cm.
Strike pro tai stick 3/4 oz clear and pearl.
Halco roostas poppers from the 90 to the monster 120s.
Gt ice creams 1 -3oz.

If anyone loves throwing lures to Pelagic fish in a massive tidal west african river then you gotta do this trip at least once in your lifetime.
Here are some pics to wet your appetites.

chammond · « **Reply #1 on:** November 23, 2014, 05:12:43 PM »

Some more pics

Kumz · « **Reply #2 on:** November 23, 2014, 05:18:44 PM »

Congrats , Great catches

Lofty · « **Reply #3 on:** November 23, 2014, 05:32:38 PM »

thanks for sharing...

chammond · « **Reply #4 on:** November 23, 2014, 05:44:52 PM »

Last pics

RobinF · « **Reply #5 on:** November 23, 2014, 05:51:24 PM »

Incredible fish! Well done.

ulua · « **Reply #6 on:** November 23, 2014, 06:51:07 PM »

Awesome, nice to see some west Africa species.

I definitely need to get there some time.

FishStyx · « **Reply #7 on:** November 23, 2014, 07:11:09 PM »

Fantastic mate... Such beautiful fish. I don't suppose you'd have any pics of that boat ride down the river? Also perhaps a few details about the contacts there, flights, visas etc?

Thanks for sharing

Lenny · « **Reply #8 on:** November 23, 2014, 08:04:12 PM »

carll · « **Reply #9 on:** November 23, 2014, 11:04:36 PM »

Great report and pics ! Thanks for sharing

Gerhard · « **Reply #10 on:** November 24, 2014, 03:51:10 AM »

Awesome!!!

I so wanted to get stuck into the Jacks while working in Luanda but could not get connected while I was there.

West Africa is definitely on the bucket list after East Africa.

REEFMAN · « **Reply #11 on:** November 24, 2014, 06:01:41 AM »

Nice report and great fish!

L Hooker · « **Reply #12 on:** November 24, 2014, 07:59:50 AM »

Nice report thanks for sharing, looks like an awesome destination

vismal · « **Reply #13 on:** November 24, 2014, 08:20:20 AM »

Awesome catches there guys!!

Spud · « **Reply #14 on:** November 24, 2014, 09:01:00 AM »

That is one on many guys bucket list. Stunning!!!!!

SAfish · « **Reply #15 on:** November 24, 2014, 09:07:12 AM »

Great report and catches.

chammond · « **Reply #16 on:** November 24, 2014, 09:37:21 AM »

I've been inundated with questions about logistics when getting to the destination.
Its pretty hassle free.
Firstly, it involved a +- 4 hour flight from OR to Libreville.
The nice thing is that the flights are early in the morning so we arrived and headed straight to one of the archipelagos for the day.
We smashed fish but all smallish in size.
The next morning we left for the airport and flew to Gamba.
This is a 1 1/2 hour flight.
From Gamba, we took a taxi to the marina (10 mins) where we boarded a boat.
The boat ride is roughly 1 hour through the Ndogo Lagoon which is a nature Reserve of note.
The lodge itself is fairly basic but has hot water and the food is fresh and substantial after a full days fishing.
With regard to visas, they are not needed.
If you would like any more details get hold of keith clover at tourrettes fishing.
They have put together a fantastic package.
Hope this helps

Prego · « **Reply #17 on:** November 24, 2014, 10:43:39 AM »

Firstly welcome to

.

congrats on what seems and epic trip to yet another bucket list destination.

Thanks for your report and great pics and sharing the details of the trip

Harvard 16 · « **Reply #18 on:** November 24, 2014, 10:57:08 AM »

Wow, great report. those are some handsome fish there, thanks for bringing a less well know destination to all of us, 470 fish in 7 days, wow!, can understand your PM inbox is rammed.

Seventenths · « **Reply #19 on:** November 24, 2014, 11:08:56 AM »

and WOW!!